Month: September 2017

When Robinson Crusoe was shipwrecked on his island in the Pacific he recorded his circumstances in a ledger with the “evil that had befallen him” in contrast to the “good” that was also his lot. Our post-Brexit future shares common characteristics with Robinson Crusoe. We face adversity, we are in it on our own and the position is self-inflicted. It’s a pity we do not keep a journal and do not record ‘good’ and ‘evils’ which have befallen us. This column continuously argues for such ‘cost-benefit’ analysis. And this government steadfastly refuses to publish any of its findings on...

Everyone – Leavers and Remainers – needs to read Boris Johnson’s Telegraph article in full. Why? Because every paragraph contains a provable lie (e.g. £350 million a week), misleading spin or an overt, jingoistic appeal to nationalism. In years to come, students will be tasked to criticise this article, paragraph-by-paragraph, for educational purposes. They’ll then end up wondering how someone seemingly so intelligent could write such drivel. The quick answer is a combination of hubris, narcissism and overweening ambition. Frankly, it’s now a toss-up between Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg as to who can most swiftly lead the UK...

By Joe Egerton and Forward by the Rt Hon Dominic Grieve QC MP Chair of the Conservative Group for Europe Dominic Charles Roberts Grieve, QC is a British Conservative politician, barrister, Queen’s Counsel and a Member of the Privy Council. Click link to read www.conservativegroupforeurope.org.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Keeping-the-bridges-open-a-CGE-Policy-Options-Paper-.pdf ...

Furious Tory MPs reject Theresa May’s threats over Brexit votes Whips warn pro-remainers over ‘Corbyn support’ but ex-minister says leadership challenge is likely Prime minister Theresa May departs from Tokyo airport after talks with Shinzo Abe, her Japanese counterpart Photograph: Masatoshi Okauchi/Rex/Shutterstock Toby Helm Observer political editor Saturday 2 September 2017 22.00 BSTLast modified on Sunday 3 September 2017 00.45 BST Theresa May faced a growing Tory revolt over her leadership as it emerged that Remain-supporting Conservative MPs are being told by party whips that they will be seen as “supporting Jeremy Corbyn” if they attempt to soften the Brexit bill. Furious Conservatives, including former...

Personally, I find myself now embarrassed to be a citizen of the UK. The UK used to have a commendable reputation around the world for providing sanctuary for refugees, asylum seekers and individuals not born in the UK but with reasons to live in the UK – like Brian White. Indeed, how could anyone in the UK think it’s OK to deport Brian White back to Zimbabwe? Obviously, Brexiteers, the Vote Leave campaign and our anti-EU newspapers (think: Mail, Sun, Express, Telegraph, Times, etc) have lied to voters about immigration and migrant workers and, hence, have stirred up a...